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The #1 resolution at the beginning of a New Year is always health related. I want to eat better, lose a few pounds, workout more, etc. The question is: How will I set myself up for success? Personally, I’d like to hire a nutritionist, a chef, a trainer and a house-keeper as long as we’re dreaming!

Being a realist, I’d say let’s start with the resolution that will have the best impact…exercising. If we can get exercise into our daily/weekly life, then we will also mentally feel better. And that will encourage us to eat a more healthy diet. Soon we’ll be feeling so good that the motivation to maintain this healthier lifestyle will come much more easily. Once we have a new way of living our New Year Resolutions can modify to something really fun…like traveling more!

Now that you’re ready to workout regularly, set-up a space in your home dedicated to exercising. This article is great for thinking through what your home gym should look like based on how you enjoy working out. Give yourself room to move around, mirrors, plenty of light and a view, TV or stereo to keep yourself entertained.

The laundry room in my last house almost caused a divorce. Well…maybe that’s a little dramatic, but it was one of the top reasons we moved. Maybe if I’d read this article sooner and had more than 36 sq. feet to work with we would still live there. In my defense the laundry room was also the room between our garage and the kitchen, so you can imagine the shoes and coats and bags and sports gear and laundry all piled up to be tripped over constantly. Like I said…that was our last house!

I love good Before and After photos and this article has plenty. One thing I always suggest to clients is that they make the laundry bright and inviting. You’re going in there to take care of a mundane task so the space should be pleasant. Make sure it’s functional and organized and there’s a place to store everything – out of site if possible.

Check out the Before picture on the 3rd example. I’ll be curious to know if you shake your head too!

Clients often get nervous when it comes to selecting tile. It’s much more permanent than paint or lighting or furniture. When the stakes feel high people often opt for the more neutral choice. They typically ask for a white tile. The good news is that there are so many fabulous white tiles out there that offer texture, dimension or pattern. That’s how I help my clients keep their designs interesting.

I love the tiles and their applications in this article! So much design inspiration here…

Wait…is this really a thing??? Had I known there was potentially prize money and bragging rights, I would have pushed my daughter to take her dorm room design to the next level!

Some of the ideas in this article are very creative and inspiring. While other ideas make no sense to me. Why would I put astro-turf on the wall next to my bed? Ouch! Some of the rooms had me wondering whether or not these people had a roommate to blend their style with.

While sharing a small room with another person is challenging, you also need to make sure there’s a place for all of your stuff. Then an even bigger challenge is having appropriate storage that keeps all functional items out of sight. This becomes essential when you have a student trying to create a calm, relaxing, zen-like space. Clutter becomes chaos pretty quickly especially in a dorm room that functions as your bedroom, living room, dining room, study room and closet all-in-one!

While there’s a lot of hoopla surrounding decked out dorm rooms, the most important factor is that your student feels comfortable. I tried to steer my daughter away from an all white comforter, but that was the crisp, clean vibe she was going for. The good news is that she knows how to use a laundry machine.

Every client, every house, every space and every situation is unique. Here’s an excellent article from Houzz regarding cabinet height in kitchens. There are a multitude of reasons why you won’t hang your upper cabinets 18″ above the countertops. We always start with the standard rule, but we often move from there due to specific uses or design elements.

I’m a firm believer in using time wisely. This is a great article for clients on being prepared for their interior design consultation meetings. For #5, I suggest clients check out my Pinterest Boards for inspiration and then create some of their own to help them find their style. The boards are extremely helpful as we design their space – a great reference tool!

There is a reason that nature is so beautiful. There is a reason that it awes and inspires us. Nature was created for us to live in and enjoy. Unless you choose to live in the great outdoors, we suggest a simpler approach to enjoying nature. Let’s bring some of the nature inside!

We can be as creative or as subtle as we want. Bring a bright floral fabric to an accent chair or install pebble tiles on your shower floor. Many of us may have wooden floors in our homes, but have you thought about accenting your walls with twigs or branches? A vase full of bright fresh flowers or potted plants may seem like an obvious solution, but a wall of birch trees wallpaper can be a welcomed surprise.

We love artwork that represents nature. Choose photographed landscapes, vibrant colored paintings of flowers or the calming tones of waterscapes. A natural wood table brings warmth into any room. Check out where you can find great reclaimed options in your area. And don’t forget the many ways stone can bring beauty into a space: walls, floors, fireplace surrounds, frames and accessories.

Be creative with how you bring nature into your home. Just go outside, see what you are drawn to, then take some steps to creating the ultimate nature-inspired space!

Ringing in the New Year is often accompanied by a few resolutions. Well, we’ve got an excellent one to add to your list: Make a sanctuary in your home. We recommend your bedroom. We all spend at least 1/3 of our lives in the bedroom so let’s make it special! Your bedroom should be the one room in your home where you can retreat and be completely at ease.

While creating this new retreat, your bedroom should reflect your personal style. Your space can be cozy, romantic, sophisticated or rustic. No matter your style, it should be minimalistic. Think hotel-living. This should be a space that evokes peace and calm, no piles or projects. We want you to be able to rest and relax!

Accomplish your style through new bedding and pillows. Add meaningful artwork. Select a few interesting accessories like photo frames or bud vases for fresh flowers. And don’t forget lighting…a new chandelier or the perfect bedside table lamps will really highlight your space. Making these few changes will definitely give you an amazing sanctuary. Now that’s one resolution worth keeping.

Enjoy 2013 in your new bedroom retreat!

For more bedroom inspiration, checkout my Pinterest Board at http://pinterest.com/intbydesign5/beautiful-bedrooms/

Some of the best surfaces to accessorize in a room are the walls. We love to create galleries of framed artwork. When grouped together the framed art can achieve the look of one larger piece of art.

There are a few simple rules to keep in mind when creating a grouping like the one pictured. The use of similar frames and matting for each piece creates visual continuity. A grouping works best if all of the subject matter is similar. For example, a collection of all family photos going up your stairwell creates a beautiful gallery. A grouping of all your favorite travel moments or interesting architectural details or black and white cityscapes would create just the right visual harmony for this type of wall art grouping.

Remember to think outside of the box. Not all art needs to be framed. A collection of wrapped canvas artwork has a stunning 3-D quality when grouped together on a wall.

If you keep these simple rules in mind, then your are bound to create a masterpiece!